Belarus Plans Textile Waste Collection And Recycling Pilot In Minsk
Belarus plans to introduce a textile waste collection and processing system in Minsk in 2026, installing an initial 50 dedicated containers for unwanted clothing, footwear and household textiles. Around 200 additional containers are planned for 2027, with a potential nationwide rollout depending on the pilot’s results.
The initiative will cover collection, sorting, reuse, recycling and energy recovery, according to Belteleradiocompany, as reported by TV BRICS. Each container will accommodate up to 100 kg of textiles.
Project manager Natalya Sharangovich said residents should place clean, dry textiles in bags and keep footwear separate from clothing to preserve the materials for further processing.
Around 40–50% of collected textiles are expected to be channelled into reuse through charitable distribution and second-hand outlets, according to Ervin Kurtbedinov, head of a waste collection and recycling enterprise. Approximately 30% will be converted into cleaning cloths, while the remaining material will be processed into alternative fuel for energy generation.
The project builds on Belarus’s existing waste separation system, which covers more than 85% of the population. The country’s municipal solid waste utilisation rate exceeds 50%.
Separate textile collection is intended to divert discarded materials from landfill, extend the useful life of clothing and household fabrics, and improve resource recovery. The pilot will help assess the scope for expanding dedicated textile waste management across the country.
